3474—"The Latter Days," "the Last Days"
By C. D.
If the above terms always mean the last days of this earth's history, the meaning must be in the adjective "last" or "latter," and not in the term "days," for that is from the common terms for days throughout the Old and New Testaments. It must therefore be in the adjectives rendered "latter" and "last." The Hebrew word is "acharseth," meaning the last or end of that to which it is applied. See Job 8:7 compared with 42:12; Num. 23:10; 24:14, 20. Moab long ago perished. The general term, as in Isa. 2:2 coupled with Heb. 1:2, seems to refer to the Christian dispensation. See also 1 Peter 1:5, 20. 1 Tim. 4:1 has no such meaning; it simply refers to "later times," "subsequent seasons." But "last days" must include the very last, and therefore the period extends to the close of the Christian dispensation. The event prophesied of, however, as to take place in the "latter days," might occur in the beginning of that period, as in Hosea 3:5, when a great remnant returned in the early days of Christianity. The latter days or last days of Isa. 2:2; 2 Tim. 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3 must include the times, and therefore pertain to that period, immediately preceding Christ's coming. As to Joel 2:31, why not accept the inspired interpretation of Acts 2:17? Joel referred to days subsequent to his time. God would have been glad to give the abundant outpouring on the return from the Babylonian captivity, but His people were not ready. It did not come till Pentecost.